Monday, November 25, 2013

Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. provides Internet and mobile security products in the People’s Republic of China. Its core Internet security products include 360 Safe Guard, a solution for Internet security and system optimization; 360 Anti-Virus, an anti-virus application that uses multiple scan engines to protect users’ computers against various kinds of malware, as well as 360 Mobile Safe, a security program for the Google Android, Apple iOS, and Nokia Symbian smartphone operating systems. The company’s platform products comprise 360 Safe Browser and 360 Speed Browser, which are based on dual-core technologies providing secure browsing and blocking malicious Websites, indentifying them among search results, scanning files downloaded through the browser for security threats, as well as 360 Mobile Browser for the iOS and Android operating systems. The 360 browsers also consist of 360 Personal Start-up Page, which serves as user’s start-up page aggregating preferred Web services and applications; 360 Search, a search engine; and 360 Mobile Assistant, which allows users to browse, search, and obtain various mobile applications for mobile devices. Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. also provides online advertising services, including online marketing services and search referral services; and Internet value-added services comprising the operation of Web games developed by third-parties, remote technical support, and cloud-based services. The company was formerly known as Qihoo Technology Company Limited and changed its name to Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. in December 2010. Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Beijing, China.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

This morning at a meeting in Washington, D.C., researchers from the academia, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Cancer Institute, a leading patient advocacy group and several drug companies are describing a new clinical trial in lung cancer that could fundamentally change the way cancer drugs are studied and approved, speeding medicines that target specific genetic mutations in cancer toward the market and patients.

The study, dubbed “The Master Protocol,” aims to solve a fundamental problem of cancer research in the genomic age. Any one mutation that causes can be extremely rare, affecting perhaps one in 30 or even one in 100 patients. That makes studying a drug to hit that mutation incredibly tough. Sometimes hitting one mutation with one drug may not be enough, meaning that the patient whose cancer could be treated with a drug combination would be even rare.

The situation is “untenable,” says Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Especially with personalized medicine we’re going to be seeing smaller patient numbers and its going to be hard for clinical trials to have access to patients even if they go worldwide.”

The Master Protocol offers a solution. The idea here is to have one over-arching plan (scientists call this a ‘protocol’) for studying lots of drugs. Instead of using one genetic test for each drug, they will use high-throughput DNA sequencing to scan tumors for 16 different genetic abnormalities that might be treated by as many as two dozen different drugs. Then patients will be put into separate studies for each new drug. Those for whom DNA sequencing doesn’t turn up a potential medicine will get a new type of immune system drug, known as a PD-1 or PDL1 inhibitor.

“It changes the idea of one test one drug,” says Roy Herbst, Chief of Medical Oncology, at Yale Cancer Center and the trial’s lead investigator. “That is the future, actually it is the present, it is just the way it has to be done.”

The study will not focus on all cancers, but on squamous cell lung cancer, a form that has proved particularly difficult to treat.

Amgen, AstraZeneca, and AstraZeneca’s MedImmune division have already signed on to provide drugs to the study. If they’re smart, other companies like Merck , Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb will follow. Other studies have tried to examine multiple drugs at once, but this will be the first one aimed at getting the effective FDA approval.

That the FDA, NCI, and drug companies could all work together is in part because of the efforts of patient advocacy group Friends of Cancer Research and its charismatic leader, Ellen Sigal. She heard the idea discussed at a meeting her group runs with the Brookings Institution in D.C., and pushed for it. She personally called Herbst to help secure his involvement.

“It’s important for patients,” Sigal says. “They’re going to get state of the art treatment and they’ll get a better result. If you want to get to the bottom line, this is something patients can’t get on a one-off.” Says Pazdur: “This would not have proceeded without her.”

This trial could also be good new for Foundation Medicine, a startup focusing on cancer genetics that was backed by Google Ventures and Bill Gates and that recently raised $106 million in an initial public offering. Foundation was picked through a competitive bidding process to do the DNA sequencing for this study – a stamp of approval for the sequencing test it already markets to oncologists and patients and which delivered 2,577 patients in the most recent quarter. It also seems possible that the study results could help Foundation convince insurers and Medicare to pay for its test, which has a list price of $5,800. Right now Foundation is talking to Medicare and planning to start submitting bills to the agency by the end of the year.

“It’s really a catch-up to the genomic information that we’re providing to docs that is difficult to act on,” says Vincent Miller, a top oncologist who is now Foundation’s chief medical officer. “It’s not a theoretical exercise.”

The Psychology of the Call team (POTC) gives all credit and thanks Matthew Herper of Forbes for writing this exciting and timely investment piece.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

After almost every single big Govt program has contributed to the burgeoning National Debt, why would any sane person think that the Govt will get it right with the ACA? Here's a list of failed Govt programs:

Social Security established in 1935 (79 years), President FDR (King Donk). A big Govt subsidized program that continues to add to the National Debt and goes unaddressed.

Medicare and Medicaid established in 1965 (49 years), President LBJ (Donk). Another deficit Govt program that goes unaddressed as the Donks layer the ACA?

Freddie Mac established in 1970 (44 years), President Nixon (RINO - republican in name only). Together with Fannie they were partly responsible for the worst economic collapse and stagnation. These Govt Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) led us to 0% Interest Rate Policies and more. Who knows how much more diversity is on the Fed's balance sheet besides Treasuries. Are you okay with a private enterprise immune from being audited?

Cash for Clunkers established in 2009, President 'O' went broke in 2009. 80% of the cars purchased turned out to be produced by foreign cos; car dealers were buried with paperwork demanded by a Govt that did not pay them what was initially promised.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, President 'W' (RINO), program costs about $55 billion per year while the U.S. ranks 17th in Education versus the modern world.

Department of Energy (DOE) established in 1977, President Carter (Donk). Has a $30 billion budget and couldn't avert the BP spill and does more harm than good by levying fines and hence raising costs, prices of gas and other fossil fuels. Latest heads of of DOE under 'O' have refused to lift restrictions on international coal shipping, stymied the Keystone pipeline and push for green energy like Solar instead of Natural-gas.

Fair Housing Act established 1968, President LBJ (Donk): The Govt instructed Banks to issue Subprime Mortgages to minorities regardless of their credit; partly responsible for 841,073 foreclosures in 2012 as Govt forced the hand of what should be Darwinian Capitalism that embraces private sector cos burn (go BK) that make bad investments and reap profits from good.

Federal Reserve Bank created on December 23, 1913, President Wilson (Donk). Fed is broke and should be audited like any private sector business, fair? I personally think the Fed played a major role in buying S&P futures beginning in October, 2010, when QE was announced. I recall a couple men that looked to be in their mid 70s on the NYSE floor scratching their heads -CNBC- as the Dow kept rallying right before close and then the overnight futures session rarely faltered .. this pattern is able to be verified by back testing the charts. As for the NYSE men, you'll just have to trust me. One of the NYSE gents said "I don't know where the volume is coming from, nobody on this floor is buying?" Fed has no 'reserve' just more and more paper 'money' with no intrinsic value. After so many failed Govt programs do you believe "Backed by full Faith and Credit of U.S. Govt is applicable?" Great reason why we're seeing equity prices rally, U.S. loss of credibility to fight a 'modern-day recession' with Monetary policies and no help from the Fiscal side as anti business policies from the Legislative side pile.

I agree with Adam that we deserve months of televised Town hall debates and not a partisan Reconciliation vote.Reconciliation is a legislative process in the U.S. Senate with debate limited to twenty hours.

Imagine if 'W' passed legislation in the same way. Legislation that was responsible for nearly $1 of every $5 of the economy's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but limited the debate to 20-hours. MSNBC's (aka MS-LSD) line-up of socialists: Mr. L. 'O' Donnell, Mz. R. Man-off, Mr. Chrissy 'thrill up my leg' Matt-news, and the ex James Brown tour manager and HS graduate Al 'Reverend since age 4' Sharpton would all be calling for public demonstrations.

I do not agree with many things 'W' did, especially with crony Hank Paulson as certain Wall Street Banks' stock prices were in free-fall, yet I have a harder time with 'O' getting away with anti Constitutional legislation.

Let's elect Independent thinkers that will Delete the 'Unaffordable HC Act' and start over. Let's come up with solutions that a majority of the people agree on.

I am sure that most Darwinian Capitalists have soft spots in their hearts for helping people with pre-existing conditions, butt let's agree on a HC overhaul in Town halls and not through a Reconciliation vote.

Wake-up America, it's not too late!

I thank you for reading, and if you have a comment or question, email me.

Capitalist Pig Bob @ Psychologyofthecall@gmail.com

Forest fire Darwinian Capitalism is best solution to almost every problem in the U.S., not big Brother!